I fa-la-la-la-love the holiday season. And there is something so magical about the holidays at Walt Disney World. Every visit, I try to find a new activity for my family to enjoy to keep our trips exciting and tick an item off our Disney bucket list. While planning our annual winter trip, I was so excited to learn that Fort Wilderness offered seasonal holiday sleigh rides. Once I tried it, I knew I had found an experience that would stay in our holiday rotation for years to come. So, hop on board and let’s find out if this one horse open sleigh is an experience worth booking.
what is it?
Offered only in December, the holiday carriage rides at the Cabins and Campsites of Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort are a more festive version of the year-round, horse-drawn carriage rides offered at the same location. To celebrate the holiday season, carriages are decorated with lights and greenery.
This is the perfect activity for small and medium-sized groups since each carriage can fit four adults or two adults and three small children. The rides are 25 minutes in length and depart every half-hour from 5-9:30PM at the Meadow Trading Post. The sleigh ride is $84 and discounts (such as those offered to Passholders or Disney Vacation Club members) are not available.
getting there
If you’re not familiar with Fort Wilderness, it is a tranquil piece of paradise. Off the beaten path, the rustic Disney resort property allows vacationers to stay in cabins, rent a campsite or hook up an RV. The property represents a nice change of pace due to the fact that no personal vehicular traffic is allowed. Disney busses travel along select routes but large portions of the property are not accessible by car. In fact, many guests rent golf carts for the duration of their stay. Admittedly, the inability to drive your vehicle does present a challenge for those with reservations that are not staying on-site.
There are three options to arrive at the Trading Post:
- Bus – Take a Disney Parks bus to the resort and transfer to an internal resort bus
- Boat – Take the boat from Magic Kingdom
- Car – Drive your vehicle to the parking lot of Fort Wilderness and take an internal resort bus to
Since the arrival process is a bit lengthy, I recommend getting to Fort Wilderness with plenty of time to spare and pairing this experience with something else to make the trip worth your time. The good news is that there is plenty to do on property including the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue, archery, sing-a-longs, a restaurant and stables. Plan your trip accordingly to take advantage of other activities at the resort.
The Experience
Check-In/Waiting
Upon arrival, check in with your driver and wait until your party is called. If you arrive early (seriously, get their early), perhaps grab a hot chocolate at PJ’s Southern Takeout. The entire area is a sight to see with seasonal decor all around. You can even stop at the General Store and check out the merchandise.
Boarding
Once called, it’s time to hop on-board, snuggle under the blankets and get underway. The distinct clip-clop of horse shoes on pavement sets the tune for your trip into a winter wonderland.
The Ride
The pace of the ride is nice, relaxed and quiet. In fact, it’s downright peaceful. Step by step you travel away from the busier area and arrive at the accommodations areas of the resort. The novelty of the experience is admittedly cool but, to me, the best part of the ride is that it goes through the campsites of Fort Wilderness. Those staying at the campgrounds tend to go all to decorate for the holiday season.
It is absolutely amazing to see RV’s, tents and golf carts all gussied up for the season. You’ll find traditional decor including lights, inflatables and displays.
If you enjoy visiting neighborhoods in your hometown, then this is the experience for you…with a bonus of being in a one horse open sleigh.
You have plenty of time to take in the sights of the area. Don’t be surprised if people wave at you as you ride by.
A word to the wise, if you’re like me and take a bazillion pictures during every activity, make sure to take them at the beginning or end of the experience – it’s pretty much impossible to take a non-blurry casual shot while moving, in the dark, with heavily lit areas.
Before you know it, your ride has come to an end and you arrive at the starting point.
how to book
The holiday season is a very busy time and slots are limited. If you are interested in booking the holiday sleigh ride experience, I recommend doing so as close to the beginning of the booking window as possible. Reservations can be made 180 days in advance and must be done via telephone at 407-WDW-PLAY (477-939-7529).
Recap
I thoroughly enjoyed the holiday sleigh ride at Fort Wilderness. It’s a wonderful opportunity to relax away from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season around Walt Disney World. The sleigh allows for a private experience with your party to take in sights and sounds without fighting for space and jockeying for position. Additionally, while the route is pre-determined, there’s no telling what creative decorative displays you’ll see. All in all, it’s a great holiday experience for your trip.
So, tell me, is the holiday sleigh ride something you would do? What’s your favorite holiday activity at Disney?
